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A Redditor recently discovered that Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin had muttered "f*cking populist" under his breath after a speech by opposition MP Jamus Lim during a parliamentary sitting in April. Tan has since come forward to apologise, and Jamus Lim has accepted his apology, but why do some still feel that his gesture was not enough? Elsewhere, a recent survey found that 35% of Singapore...

The fiery nature of the recent Parliament sitting spilled onto social media, with Leader of the House Indranee Rajah compelling Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai to take down a video from PSP’s Facebook page, and to issue a public apology. What was this entire “sia suay” PSP video about, and how did it spark one of the most peculiar exchanges in Singapore Parliamentary history? Elsewhere, a...

We finally did it! Yesterday, we showed up and observed the Parliament debate on Ridout Road! Rather than give our usual take on the issue based solely on what we read or watch in the media, we decided to go down to Parliament in person and see it for ourselves. What did we take away from the experience? What issue left Haresh dispirited? Were we convinced? Who else showed up to observe the sessio...

From 1st July, a flat owner will be presumed guilty of high-rise littering if he cannot prove within 14 days that he is not responsible for the offence. This makes it easier to catch offenders, but brings up the question of overreach as well. Elsewhere, people called out some adults for washing themselves at a public fountain at Kallang, and even took pictures of them washing their armpits and but...

We got Entomologist Foo Maosheng in our studio today to talk about the new cockroach species he discovered in Singapore & named after a Pokemon! We covered this story back in May 2023 (YLB #374), and now we get to hear about his love for creepy crawlies, the passion for Pokemon shared by him & his co-author and his estimate that we’ve only discovered about 30% of the insects in Singapore!...

The entire world has been riveted by the search and rescue effort for the missing Titanic submersible, but some have already started questioning the apparent lack of safety features on the underwater tourist vessel. We take a look at whether their critiques are justified. Closer to home, Singapore plays host to the inaugural Olympic Esports Week, which has riled up some in the gaming community for...

Last week, Ho Ching, PM Lee’s wife, ignited online debate after posting a lengthy Facebook post about the role of the President in Singapore’s political infrastructure. What did she say that caused such a ruckus? Elsewhere, a man knocked on doors along Nassim Road, with the intention to interview “owners from the richest neighbourhood in Singapore” for his TikTok video. Why did his actions rub so...

With Haresh away this week, comedian Rishi Budhrani steps in to be the supersub once again! And the timing couldn’t have been better, as we talk about the ongoing fallout from the Jocelyn Chia controversy, and how the local standup comedy scene is feeling about this incident. Rishi also weighs in on entrepreneur George Goh’s announcement of his intention to run against Tharman for President. Find...

[NOTE: This podcast was recorded 2 weeks ago, on 30 May 2023] Marathoner Soh Rui Yong, fresh from his men’s 10,000m medal win and viral show of sportsmanship at the SEA Games in Cambodia, joined us in the YLB studio to talk candidly about the entire experience back in Singapore colours. Find us here! YLB TikTok   YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d love to hel...

This week, Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia incurred the wrath of furious Malaysians after posting a video of her stand-up comedy performance, in which she insulted Malaysia and made a joke about the missing airliner MH370. Government officials from both countries have released statements, protests have been planned, and even other comedians, like Dr. Jason Leong, are facing blowback from this...

This past week, ex-NMCP Daniel Goh announced his expulsion from the Workers’ Party. While it was not unexpected, we discuss what this move means for public perception of the internal workings of the WP. Elsewhere, MP Sun Xueling shared a Punggol resident’s rude and vulgar email addressed to her, underlining the needlessness of verbal abuse in giving feedback. However, we questioned the need for he...

From 1st June, tray and crockery return will be more strictly enforced by enforcement officers in Singapore. What changes are expected, and will it make a material difference in making Singapore a more gracious society? Elsewhere, a migrant worker won a life-changing amount of money in a Squid Game-inspired company dinner and dance event. Why are there mixed feelings on the internet about the even...

This week, President Halimah Yacob announced that she will not stand for re-election in the 2023 Presidential Election. What does this mean for the presidential race ahead? Elsewhere, it was also announced that all national servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces, Police Force and Civil Defence Force will receive an increase in their National Service (NS) allowance. Was this increase warranted, a...

On the back of announcing record annual profits, Singapore Airlines is reintroducing elements of its in-flight dining experience, such as appetisers for economy class meals and hot towels, which were removed during the pandemic. Why the sudden change of course? Elsewhere, the Football Association of Singapore acting president made a number of announcements that underline the necessity for change i...

This past week, a COVID-stricken PM Lee ordered an independent review of the Ridout Road situation to address the allegations that have arisen over the matter. How did a blogpost by an opposition politician escalate to this? Elsewhere, a Singaporean influencer has drawn flak for uploading a video showing how to manipulate IKEA’s ice cream machines to dispense more ice cream than the usual portion....

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing spoke to students and staff at Raffles Institution’s bicentennial lecture this week, and emphasised that RI has a duty to bring others along and let more benefit. We break down the speech and why it’s representative of the times we live in. Elsewhere, Protected Area signs in Singapore will be getting a facelift, with a new silhouette that more accurately represent...

Last Friday evening, the Singapore Land Authority responded to a series of blogposts from opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaratnam that questioned how Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan came to occupy two huge state-owned colonial bungalows on Ridout Road. We break down SLA’s response, and examine why this house rental issue is generating a lot of buzz on social media. Elsewhere, many B...

Singapore won its first SEA Games e-sport gold medal, but the win was mired in controversy. We break down the spat between the Singapore and Indonesian teams, and discuss if there could have been any other outcome. Elsewhere, a man took to social media to call out a bazaar stall that hired a tudung-wearing employee, but was selling pork satay, even prompting MUIS to respond to the issue. Is the an...

This week, NCMP Leong Mun Wai proposed that the government set aside $1 million for a parliamentary research department, among other proposals for more resources to help parliamentarians. While the idea was shot down, were there any merits in his suggestions? At the same parliamentary session, MP Edwin Tong also defended the need for buskers to undergo live auditions annually. Why is this a big st...

King Charles’ coronation, a historic moment for the British monarchy, was the talk of the town this past weekend, but much of the attention was directed at Prince Harry and his demeanour at the ceremony. What stood out, and do people actually care about the royal family? Closer to home, people also scrutinized an exhibit at the National Gallery that featured live chickens, asking about the welfare...

IN DPM Lawrence Wong’s May Day Rally, he spoke about how Singapore can prevail in a changing world, and also touched on the hot topic of rising housing prices. How did he fare in his first May Day Rally as PM-in-waiting? Elsewhere, some condos have banned or restricted access to delivery riders. Is this a trend that will continue even as deliveries become part and parcel of daily life? Find us her...

This past week, popular GP tutor Brooke Lim was revealed by an anonymous TikTok account to have plagiarised others’ content for a blogpost she wrote. This has led to an apology video, international news coverage, and a firestorm of vitriol directed at her. Why has this issue become such a big deal ? Elsewhere, Netflix has also drawn the ire of Egyptians, with the revelation that the historical fig...

Last week, only 30 names were put up for consideration for Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) positions, the lowest number since 2001. Why are so few people applying for this prestigious parliamentary position? Elsewhere, a dispute between an LA party organiser and a Singapore venue management company has made international news, as the plug was pulled on an LGBT party that was scheduled for May...

This past week, the Charles & Keith girl had to post a video refuting the claims that she’s been less than honest about her family’s financial background. Why was it necessary? Elsewhere, a Singapore company sued an engineer who quit after getting his bonus, looking to claw the money back. While they ultimately won the case, we debate whether it’s fair for the company to resort to this legal a...

Performer and writer Jo Tan comes by our studio to spill the beans about her brief stint as a DJ on SPH’s Kiss92 FM radio station. Why did she jump into it, despite her reservations? What made her quit? And what does she want to say about the experience via her new play, Happy Place? Find us here! YLB Subreddit   YLB TikTok   YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’...